Craig Hope

Published:11:10Monday 23 April 2012

NEALE Cooper has expressed his sympathy for loan star Ryan Noble – but is backing the striker to end his Hartlepool United stay on a goalscoring high.

The 20-year-old was in the thick of the action during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Tranmere Rovers, leaving Merseyside with a bloodied lip and a sense of regret following his involvement in the game’s major talking point.

Noble had looked odds-on to net the second goal of his temporary Pools stay when he scampered clear of the home defence in the second half.

But he hadn’t bargained on the leg of goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams sending him crashing to the turf on the fringe of the penalty area.

The keeper was sent off and Noble’s chance was gone.

Cooper has revealed that the former England youth international cut a distraught figure in the away-team dressing room afterwards.

But he believes the Sunderland-born ace can use that frustration to his advantage during the final two games of the season.

“He’s desperate to score all of the time and on Saturday he had very much hardlines,” the Pools boss told SportMail today ahead of this weekend’s final home match against Leyton Orient.

“It’s not going for him at the moment and I feel for him.

“It really hurts him and he beats himself up about it afterwards and he gets down.

“But he’s trying like a beast right now and it’ll come for him, I’m sure.

“He’s got a couple of games to get some goals and I’m sure he will, you can’t put that amount of effort in and not get the rewards you deserve eventually.”